Thursday, November 20, 2014

Homes Away from Home

I
try to strike a balance between the new and the familiar.I like to experience new races and visit new places, but I also return to the ones I like best.If you visit the same area enough times, you
gain a familiarity that makes it seem like a home away from home.I now have several homes away from home.

Tropicana resort in Las Vegas

Last
weekend, Deb and I were in Las Vegas.When we arrived at the airport to fly home, I started to wonder when I
would be back.I’ve only run two
marathons in Las Vegas, but I’ve flown into that airport for several other
races that are nearby.I usually end up
staying at a hotel in Las Vegas for at least one night.

I’ve
been through McCarran International Airport enough times that I know my way
around.I know which gate I’m likely to
fly in and out of, where I can find an ATM, which restaurants are nearby, and
where there are tables and chairs that are never crowded.I also know my way from the rental car center
to the strip and which gas stations I’ll drive by on my way to return the car.

The
first time Deb and I traveled to Las Vegas, we stayed at Tropicana.That was in 1999.We stayed there because we got a good deal on
an airfare and hotel package.That hotel
is still called the Tropicana, but now it’s been rebranded as a Doubletree,
making it part of the Hilton family.I’ve stayed there three more times since then.

On
our 1999 trip, we became familiar with hotels at the south end of the strip,
including MGM Grand, New York New York, Excalibur and Luxor.On subsequent trips we became familiar with
hotels farther north on the strip.Our
favorite is The Venetian-Palazzo, but it’s expensive.We were only able to stay there on this trip
because they had a special rate for the marathon.

A view of Mt. Hood from Portland

I've run
12 marathons in Portland, Oregon and its suburbs.My favorite is the Foot Traffic Flat Marathon
on Sauvie Island.That race is always
held on the 4th of July.The first time
I ran it, I stayed at an Extended Stay in Hillsboro.It was half the cost of the downtown hotels,
and I could get to Sauvie Island just as quickly driving north on Cornelius Pass Road.

In
recent years, that race has been part of the Firecracker Triple or
Quadzilla.I’ve done the triple twice
and the quadzilla once.Each time, I’ve
stayed at a hotel in Beaverton or Tigard.I’m getting familiar with the western suburbs of Portland.I know where the various race venues are, as
well as nearby grocery stores.I have a
few favorite restaurants in the area too.

I
love traveling to Portland in July.This
year it was hot, but usually the weather is beautiful at this time of year.Doing three or four marathons in one trip
gives me a chance to settle in for four or five days.I always get a hotel room with a fridge and
microwave.I like to stop at the Pumpkin
Patch market and buy a raspberry pie (or two).

Luther Glass Park in Peachtree City

In
2007, I joined the Darkside Running Club, and Deb and I traveled to Atlanta for
one of their races in Peachtree City.We
stayed at a hotel near the airport, allowing us to drive down to Peachtree City
for the race, but also take the train for sightseeing in downtown Atlanta.Since then, Atlanta and Peachtree City have
both become homes away from home.I’ve
returned to Peachtree City for several Darkside races.Twice, I’ve combined the Peachtree City 50K
with the Soldier Marathon in Columbus, which falls on the same weekend.

I’ve
also stayed in Atlanta a few times.The
Georgia Marathon starts and finishes at Centennial Olympic Park, which is really convenient if
you’re staying at a downtown hotel.There are at least two hotels in the Hilton family that are close to the park.I’ve also stayed in the Atlanta area for the
Atlanta Marathon and the Silver Comet Marathon.Last year, those two races fell on the same weekend.

Because
I usually fly on Delta Airlines, I also think of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson
Airport as a home away from home.I’ve
made connections in that airport more times than I can count.I know that airport like the back of my hand.

Atlanta
is only one of the cities where I’ve used the trains to get around.Others include Boston, Washington, New York,
Philadelphia, San Francisco, Chicago, Portland and Seattle.Internationally, I’ve learned to use the
subways systems in Paris, London and Tokyo.My favorite is Boston.Having
done the Boston Marathon four times, I’ve had time to learn the train
network.I like staying at the
Doubletree, because I know it’s next door to a T station.

Sign at an entrance to Black Hills National Forest

Not
all of my homes away from home are in cities.I love the Black Hills on the west side South Dakota.When I was growing up, we used to go there on
long camping trips.Now I return to do
marathons and ultras on the Mickelson Trail.I’ve done the Lean Horse 100 twice, the Lean Horse 50 three times and
the Run Crazy Horse Marathon once.I’ve
become particularly well-acquainted with Hot Springs.When I was growing up, we used to go
swimming at Evans Plunge.I’ve stayed in Hot Springs five times while running the Lean Horse Ultras.I
usually do some sightseeing while I’m out there.There’s a lot to see and do in the Black
Hills.I also love the smell of a pine
forest.

Sign in the lobby of Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel

I’ve
only been to Lake Tahoe three times, but each time I’ve stayed for five
nights.I’ve done the Tahoe Triple three
times.I always stay at the same hotel
in South Lake Tahoe.It’s now called the
Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel, but it used to be an Embassy Suites.For the last two years, it’s been the
headquarters hotel for the Tahoe Triple.

The
nearest airport is in Reno.I’ve learned
to save money by spending the first night in Carson City and then driving to
South Lake Tahoe the next morning.Arriving early gives me a chance to do a scenic drive around the
lake.Then I spend the next three days
running around the lake.

The Space Needle in Seattle

The
most recent addition to my homes away from home list is the greater Seattle
area.In a week, I’ll travel there to do
the Seattle Quadzilla for the second time.I’ll spend three nights at a hotel in Renton and two nights at a hotel
in downtown Seattle.I stayed at the
same two hotels last year.I’m also familiar
with all four race venues.

This
will be my third trip to the Seattle area this year.In April, I flew into the Seattle-Tacoma airport and spent one
night in Renton before driving to Yakima for the Yakima River Canyon
Marathon.In July, I stayed in Bellevue
for the Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon.Both times, I had dinner with other Marathon
Maniacs at Smoking Monkey Pizza in Renton.We’ll dine there again when I return for the quadzilla.

Someday,
one of these places may become my real home.I love the Seattle area.When I
was growing up, my family spent two summers in Mount Vernon, which is 60 miles
north of Seattle.Seattle is also Deb’s
favorite city.Jobs and family ties have
always kept us in Minnesota, but if we ever decide to move, Seattle would be
awfully tempting.I’m not a big fan of
rain, but it sure beats snow and sub-zero temperatures.

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About Me

I’ve been running marathons since 1983 and ultramarathons since 1998. I’m not an elite athlete, but I train hard, and I race hard. I try to race as often as I can, while still striving to do my best in each race. I also use races as an opportunity to travel to different places and meet other runners.